Body and truck bolster for railway-cars.



Patehted July 30, mm. w. P. BETTENDORF.

BODY AND TRUCK BULSTEB FOB RAILWAY CARS.

(Application filed. Dec. 27, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heat l.

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No. 679,494. Patented July 30, l90l.

W. P. BETTENDORF.

BODY AND TRUCK BOLSTER FOR RAILWAY CARS.

(Application filed Due. 21, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

rrnn STATES PATENT Grrrcn.

WILLIAM P. BETTENDORF, OF DAVENPORT, IOWVA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,494, dated July 30,1901. Application filed December 27, 1899. Serial No. 7ll,764- (N0model-l To (tZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM P. BETTEN- DORF, a citizen of the Unit-edStates, and a resident of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State ofIowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Body andTruck Bolsters for Railway-Oars, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a body and a truck bolster forcars made from a novel form of rolled-steel beams, which is soconstructed as to form a truss capable of withstanding the draft strainof the car, as-

well as supporting the maximum of weight and equally distribute thesame, while at the same time making a very light bolster at a minimum ofexpense. This I accomplish by the mechanism hereinafter fully described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of about two-thirds thelength of the body and truck bolster in their relative positions,showing the portion of the half, the end of which is broken away, inlongitudinal vertical section. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken on dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improvedbody-bolster inverted. Fig. 4 is a plan view of my improvedtruck-bolster. Fig. 5 is an end view of said bolster in the relativeposition shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse view of a cut-off endof the body-bolster. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a broken-away endof the truck-bolster. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of thebody-bolster, taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof a rolledsteel beam such as is employed in the conand a lower sectionof a peculiarly-constructed rolled-steel beam, so arranged that theirsides are bounded by the same vertical planes. This rolled-steel beamconsists of a flat plate a of suitable Width and thickness, which arethe same throughout the entire length of the beam. Between eachlongitudinal side of this beam and the center of width thereof it hasprojecting at right angles from one of its broad surfaces twocorresponding parallel Webs b, and it is provided with longitudinalbeads 0, preferably on the same side as that from which said websproject, the outer contours of which are preferably next and flush withthe longitudinal sides of the beam.

The upper section A of the rolledsteel beam ab 0, used in making thebody-bolster, is straight its entire length and is placed so that itswebs project downward, whereas the lower section B of said rolled steelbeam, which is placed so that its webs project upward, has its centralportion arranged parallel to said upper section A and its end portionson either side of said central portion bent toward said upper section,so that the edges of its longitudinal webs I) come in contact with theedges of the webs b of said upper section at a point about ten or twelveinches from the ends of the bolster, from which point the end portionsof said lower section are so bent that said end portions are parallel tosection A and have their meeting edges in contact therewith, as shown.

The parallel central portions of the upper and lower sections A and B:are connected by rectangular vertical plates O O, which are secured,preferably, to the inner vertical surfaces of the webs b 5 thereof,coming in the same vertical plane, by transverse bolts D. These plates(J may be perfectly flat their entire length and breadth; but I preferto make them of short sections of rolled-steel beams, having their sideedges correspondingly bent at right angles thereto to form flanges clcl. Plates 0 are also provided with longitudinal parallel ridges e e,the sides of which next the flanges cl are at right angles to the broadsides of said plate, and each ridge is so located that when the plate issocured to the webs b of the sections A and B the edges of said websbear against the flat sides of said ridges and the flanges d (1 willbear against the adjacent portion of the broad sides of the saidsections A and B. Plates 0 are secured to the webs of the upper andlower sections by transverse bolts D, as stated. I prefer to use four ofthese bolts D for securing both the upper and lower side portions ofthese plates 0 to sections A and B and to place them at equal intervalsapart in the same horizontal plane. The end bolts of the series have theportions thereof coming between the plates 0 pass through spacingsleevesf, the length of which are such that when the bolt-heads are swaged theplates 0 are securely clamped between the heads of the bolts D and theends of the spacing-sleeves. These sleeves may be of the same diameterthroughout their length; but I prefer to provide their ends with flangesf, one side edge of which is elongated in suitable manner and has itsouter end out off straight at right angles to the major axis of thesame, so that when in use such straight edge will bear against theflanges ofthe plate 0, as shown.

The two intermediate bolts D of each series extend through sleeves g,which latter are the same in every substantial respect as sleeves f,excepting that they are connected at about their centers of length by across bar 9, through which the vertical guide-opening for the king-boltis made. Plates 0 and the individual and siamese sleeves f and g, whenunited by the bolts D to the upper and lower section A and B, make avery strong central filler for the bolster, which latter when connectedto the sill-timbers and other parts of the car is amply able towithstand the draft strain of the car, whichis transverse thereto. Thecentral portion of the bolster is further reinforced to withstand thisdraft strain by the plate of the male bearing E, secured to the undersurface of the lower section B by rivets 2 2, passing down through thesame near each side and through plate 01 thereof between itslongitudinal sides and the webs b of the same.

The ends of the sections of beam A and B, composing the body-bolster,are secured together on each side by vertical bolts F B, which passvertically down through the marginal portions of plates a thereofbetween the webs b and the heads of said sections, and by vertical boltsG G, passed vertically down through plates at of said upper and lowersections at a point near the end of the bolster and just inside of thewebs b of the same. These vertical bolts F and G may be passed throughthe two sections at any other point near the ends of the bolster, ifdesired; but I prefer them to be placed as indicated, because they thusafford greater strength and rigidity to the bolster and at the same timecan be utilized to assist in holding the end' plate K in place, as willhereinafter be more fully explained.

I could confine myself to the use of the bolts F and G alone to securethe ends of the upper and lower sections of the bolster together. Iprefer, however, to use a suitable casting in conjunction with thesebolts, which will not only reinforce the bolts a of these sections atthe point where said bolts pass therethrough, but will also clamp thesame, so as to resist both the transverse displacement and longitudinalstrain of said sections.

'This casting consists of a key h, the contours of which are preferablyrectangular and is of such length that it can just pass throughcorresponding rectangular recesses in the adjacent meeting edges of thewebs of the sections. This key connects two substantially correspondingrectangular plates 2' and j, one of which is adapted to bear against theouter vertical surface of said webs and the other of which is adapted tobear against the inner vertical surface of the webs next the recess inwhich said key is seated. These plates 1' and j are of substantiallycorresponding dimensions, and the outer one ext-ends horizontally towardthe center of the bolster a short distance, and has made integranttherewith and arranged at right angles thereto a vertical 1 sleeve,which is so located that the bolts F can pass therethrough, and is ofsuch vertical dimensions as to reinforce the plate at where said boltspass through the same. The plates j, made integrant with the inner endof said scribed by the edges of which are such as to follow the contoursof the ends of the upper and lower sections of the bolster when the sameare secured together. This end plate is secured to the end of thebolster by means of lugs o 0, projecting inwardly therefrom at a pointabout the middle of its height and so that the ends of the same willenter between the knuckles m m of the platej, so that the bolts G, whenextended down through the plates at of the upper and lower section andsaid knuckles can pass through vertical openings in the same and therebyhold said end plate in place. This end plate is made to assist in theholding of the upper and lower sections together by having its edgesprovided with inwardly-projecting flanges which lap over and bearagainst the sides of the ends of said sections, substantially as shown.

The truck-bolster also consists of an upper section B and lower sectionS of the rolledsteel beam a b c, the central portions of which areconnected by vertical plates 0 similar in every substantial respect toplate 0, hereinbefore described, except that it is slightly wider, so asto hold the central portions a little farther apart than as shown in thebodybolster. In the truck-bolster the end portions of each the upper andlower sections thereof are bent or inclined equally toward each otheruntil the edges of webs h 1) thereof meet at a point about, say, twelveinches from the ends of the bolster, whereupon they are again bent sothat from said point of initial contact to the ends the plates a of saidsections are parallel and the edges of the webs Z) thereof remain incontact. These end portions of said upper and lower sections are securedtogether by vertical bolts 0" and s, which, preferably, are passedthrough suitable bolt-holes in plate a between the webs Z) and beads 0thereof. These bolts r and 5 may be independent of the guide-blocks V V,but I prefer to use them in conjunction there with.

The guide-blocks V are constructed so as to provide the usual verticalguide-channel 5 in their outer surfaces, and on each side of thischannel they are provided with lugs 6 6, which are so formed that theirflanged end edges bear against the outer vertical surfaces of the websZ) and are provided with vertical knuckles 7 8, down through which bolts1" and s extend. The knuckle 8 next the end of the bolster has itscenter of length cut away, and between the divisions thereof I insertthe adjacent lug 9 of the end plate 10. This end plate 10 is similar infunction and construction to the end plate I of the body-bolster; butits fastening-lugs 9 extend inward from its side edges and lap againstthe outer surface of webs 1) between lugs 8 instead of against the innersurface of said webs.

The body of the guide-block V projects inward at a point about intransverse alinement with the center of width and height of theguide-channels 5 thereof and is so formed that its inner end ispreferably rectangular in cross-section and forms a key 12, which entersthe rectangular opening l3,made by making corresponding recesses in thewebs b of the upper and lower sections at such a point that when theedges of the webs of said sections are brought together said rectangularopening 12 results.

The end plate 10 reinforces and strengthens the ends of the bolster in atransverse direction, and the keys 12 of the guide-block prevent thelongitudinal displacement or shearing strain of the two sections and remove a great deal of said shearing strain that would otherwise fall onthe bolts 1" and s.

In order to complete the bolsters hereinbefore described, I secure tothe under side of the body-bolster by rivets or bolts extending throughthe lugs thereof and through the plate a of the under section at pointspreferably between the webs and the longitudinal sides thereof and thesegmental side bearing NV, and I secure to the upper surface of thetruckbolster in the same manner the side bearing U. In order toeconomize, I prefer to utilize the bolts 7' used in the trnck-bolstertosecure the upper and lower sections together and also to fasten one endof the guide'block thereto in securing the said side bearing U to thetruck bolster. This is easier accomplished by making the basal lugs onone side of said side bearing U of such dimensions that said bolts 4"can be passed through the bolt-opening therein.

While I much desire the use of the heads 0 in the rolled-steel beamsfrom which the upper and lower sections of the bolster are made, yet itis obvious that said beads might be dispensed with. These beads serve togreatly strengthen the beams to resist the side or transverse pressurethereon and are particularly used in the beams used in construction ofthe body-bolster.

I do not wish to be confined to the exact means hereinbefore describedand shown to fasten the ends of the upper and lower sections of myimproved bolsters together. Skilled workmanship would suggest a greatmany other means and devices for accomplishing this purpose, especiallywhen the peculiar means employed by me in the construction of saidbolsters are disclosed.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a bolster for cars, a metallic beamconsisting of a flat plate provided with a plurality of parallellongitudinal webs projecting from the face of the plate between itsedges.

2. In a bolster for cars a rolled-metal beam consisting of a flat plateprovided with parallel longitudinal webs and longitudinal beads next theside edges thereof.

3. In a bolster for cars a rolled-metal beam consisting of a flat plateprovided with parallel longitudinal webs projecting at right anglestherefrom between its center of width and its longitudinal side edges,and provided with longitudinal beads next said side edges.

4. A bolster for cars comprising a pair of beams, each provided with alongitudinal web located between its edges, said webs extending towardeach other, and means for uniting said beams.

5. A bolster comprising a pair of beams, each provided with one or morevertical, longitudinal webs located between its edges, said websextending toward each other, and being separated at their centralportions and brought into contact and union at their ends.

6. A bolster for cars consisting of upper and lower sections ofrolled-metal beams each comprising a flat horizontal plate havinglongitudinal webs, and vertical plates which have their longitudinalside edges flanged and are secured to the webs of and hold the centralportions of said sections a suitable distance apart; said sections beingso arranged one above the other that the webs of one section projecttoward and aline with those of the other, and said sections having theirend portions bent toward the other so that the webs thereof comeincontact and are suitably fastened together.

7. A bolster for cars consisting of upper and lower sections ofrolled-metal beams,

each comprisinga flat horizontal plate hav inglongitudinal webs, andvertical plates having their longitudinal side edges flanged and securedto and holding the central portions of said sections a suitable distanceapart; said sections being so arranged, one above the other, thatthe-webs of one sectionproject toward the others, and said sectionshaving their end portions bent toward the other so that the webs thereofcomein contact and are suitably fastened together.

8-.- A bolster for cars consisting of upper and lower-sectionsofrolled-metal beamseach comprising a flat horizontal plate havinglongitudinal webs, and vertical plates having their longitudinal sideedges correspondingly flanged and having longitudinal ridges projectingfrom the other side thereof said vertical plates being secured to theweb of said sections so that the edges of said webs are seated againstthe sides of said ridges so as to hold the central portions of saidsections a suitable distance apart; said sections being so arranged, oneabove the other, that the webs of the one section project toward and arecoterminous with those of the other, and said sections having their endportions bent toward the other so that the webs thereof come in contactand are suitably fastened together.

9. A car-bolster comprising two sections, each consisting of a plate andan inwardlyextending web, means for centrally separating said sectionshaving surfaces engaging the inner edges of the webs to form bearingstherefor, and means for uniting the ends of the sections.

10. A bolster for cars consisting of upper and lower sections ofr0lled-metal beams each comprising a flat horizontal plate havinglongitudinal webs, and so arranged, one above the other, thatthe webs ofone section project toward and are coterminous with the other, verticalplates secured to the inner sides of the webs, and holding the centralportions of said sections a suitable distance apart, transverse boltssecuring said plates to said webs and sleeves placed between saidvertical plates through which said bolts pass; said sections havingtheir end portions bent toward the other so that the webs thereof comein contact and are suitably fastened togetber.

' ll. Abolster for cars consisting of centrallyseparated upper and lowersections of rolledmetal beams comprising a horizontal plate havinglongitudinal webs, said sections being so arranged that the webs of oneproject toward those of the other, the end portions of said sectionsbeing inclined or bent toward each other until the webs thereof come incontact and then bent parallel to each other the remainder of theirlength and fastened together, in combination with an end plate placedflat against the ends of said united sections so that their flangededges conform to the outer contours of and embrace the same.

1 2. A bolster for cars consisting of upper and lower centrallyseparatedsections of beams comprisinga horizontal plate having longitudinal webs;said sections being so arranged that the webs of one project towardthose of the other, and, having their end portions bent toward the otheruntil their webs come in contact and then being parallel the remainderof their lengths, in combination with a suitable casting fitting betweenthe plates of the parallel end portions of said sections, end platesconforming to the outer contours of the ends of said united sections andhaving its ends flanged so as to embrace the same and having inwardlyprojecting lugs, and vertical bolts passing through the plates of saidsections, through said castings and the lugs of said end plates.

13. A bolster for cars consisting of upper and lower centrallyseparatedsections of beams comprising a horizontal plate having parallellongitudinal webs, respectively projectingtherefrom between its centerofwidth and its side edges, and having longitudinal marginal beads nextsaid side edges; said sections being so arranged that the webs of oneproject toward and are in the same Vertical plane as those of the other,and, one or both, having their end portions bent toward the other untilsaid webs come in contact and are arranged in opposition to each otherand brought into contact near their ends, a key passing through anopening in said webs, means for securing one end of said key to theopposing plates on one side of the web, and means for holdingthe'otherend of said key in engagement with the webs on the other sidethereof.

15. A car-bolster consisting of an upper and a lower section, providedwith opposing webs, said webs being brought into contact near theirends, a key passing through an opening in said webs, and means forsecuring said key to the two sections on both sides of the webs.

16. A car-bolster consisting of an upper and a lower section eachprovided with two webs, arranged to oppose those on the other section,the opposing webs being brought into engagement near their ends andprovided with registering apertures, akey passing through said apertureshaving exterior and interior knuckles, means for securing the exteriorknuckles to the two. sections, and an end plate having lugs to engagethe interior knuckles.

WILLIAM P. BETTENDORF.

Witnesses:

HENRY BELLINGHAUSEN, FRANK M. GODDARD.

